We are in our last full month of summer - often some of the hottest days of the year.

What are some yogic techniques to keep your cool?

*Sitali Pranayam: Curl your tongue, stick it out, and inhale through your tongue like it's a straw. Then slowly exhale through your nose. 1 -3 minutes or as long as you like. (if you can't curl your tongue, just make your mouth into a small circle)

*Left nostril breath: Block your right nostril with your right thumb and inhale and exhale slowly through your left nostril only. 1 -3 minutes or as long as you like. This helps cool and calm you, and is helpful for anxiety and insomnia!

Therapeutic classes for The Highly Sensitive Person are scheduled for August 9, August 23, and Sept. 13.

This month, we will finish the journey we've been on for the last 40 weeks, working with the book "The End of Karma" by Dharma Singh Khalsa, MD. This book takes the 40 parts of Japji, the sacred Sikh morning prayer, and illuminates the basic message of each. This path of inquiry is open to people of all beliefs and faith traditions! Topics for each week: (Thursdays only)

August 3: "Cutting Karma"

Yoga Kriya to Exalt the Self

Meditation: Kirtan Kriya

August 10: "Blessings"

Two Yoga Kriyas for Creativity

Meditation to End Your Karma and Connect with the Endless Circle of Infinite Prosperity

Honoring the 50th anniversary of the Summer of Love with music, art, yoga, and meditation. Pre-registration REQUIRED by Aug. 3.

Special Sadhana Saturday August 26!

Every year at the ashram, we celebrate Yogi Bhajan's birthday with a special meditation practice: 2 1/2 hours of chanting long Ek Ong Kars. We will begin at 3:25 am, and conclude with a worldwide meditation of Guru Ram Das at 6 am, followed by Yogi tea and a potluck breakfast. Please RSVP so I know how much tea, etc., to have on hand!

If you are a graduate of any of the past teacher trainings here in Chapel Hill, you are invited to stay after the meditation for a teacher training reunion! Re-connect with your fellow classmates, and meet teachers from other training years as well!

Starting at 8 am, we will do a kriya together, have a gong bath, visit, and will finish our time together by going to Living Kitchen at 11 am for an early lunch!

To do ahead of time: Soak the walnuts, pine nuts, and cashews in filtered or spring water for 10 - 12 hours.

Then drain and rinse the nuts, and place them in a food processor and blend until smooth. Put into a bowl, and mix in all the other ingredients.

You can then place this filling into your wrap of choice. I love the tomato wraps made by Chocolatree, available online. You can also buy or make coconut wraps, or use a collard leaf or romaine lettuce leaf. If you're not using a green as your wrap, add some lettuce or other greens for freshness and crunch!

Make a nice cool and easy lunch! Store any leftover in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Service Opportunity

Mata Shakti Ashram welcomes your support! How can you help?

Time and Talent: help with yard and garden maintenance, upkeep of classroom and workshop/training spaces, vegetarian raw food prep, help with social media and technology.Talk to your friends and perosnal community about Mata Shakti Ashram, for we are truly "grass roots"!

Finance/Funds: Donations of money to assist Mata Shakti Ashram pay the overhead cost for the current space, pay guest teachers, and provide some scholarships to those in need. Let us know how much you are willing to pledge monthly or yearly over the next year to 5 years, as we prepare the non-profit status. Every donation will receive a class pass to share with a friend to acquaint them with the ashram.